Issue 12, 2013

Production of biomass-derived furanic ethers and levulinate esters using heterogeneous acid catalysts

Abstract

Mesoporous aluminosilicates of the type Al-TUD-1, prepared via “green”, low-cost, non-surfactant templating routes, are effective and versatile heterogeneous acid catalysts for the production of useful bio-based furanic ethers and levulinate esters, via the reactions of the biorenewable substrates 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (Hmf) or furfuryl alcohol (FA) with aliphatic alcohols. The identification of reaction intermediates and products by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry was carried out, giving mechanistic insights. Ethyl levulinate (EL) was formed from FA or Hmf as substrates, with higher EL yields being reached in the former case. Different types of alkyl levulinates may be synthesized from FA using Al-TUD-1 catalysts. On the other hand, 5-(ethoxymethyl)furan-2-carbaldehyde may be formed as the main product from Hmf. Modifications of the properties of Al-TUD-1 involved varying the Si/Al ratio and applying a post-synthesis acid treatment. The influence of these factors and of the reaction conditions on the catalytic reactions was investigated. The efficient regeneration and recyclability of Al-TUD-1 was assessed.

Graphical abstract: Production of biomass-derived furanic ethers and levulinate esters using heterogeneous acid catalysts

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Sep 2013
Accepted
20 Sep 2013
First published
20 Sep 2013

Green Chem., 2013,15, 3367-3376

Production of biomass-derived furanic ethers and levulinate esters using heterogeneous acid catalysts

P. Neves, M. M. Antunes, P. A. Russo, J. P. Abrantes, S. Lima, A. Fernandes, M. Pillinger, S. M. Rocha, M. F. Ribeiro and A. A. Valente, Green Chem., 2013, 15, 3367 DOI: 10.1039/C3GC41908H

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements